Today marks two months since Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines. After the storm, World Vision communicator Annila Harris visited survivors and met sponsored child Apple, whose family is benefiting from World Vision relief supplies. The way this little girl cared for her baby sister, Roalyn, taught Annila that even when a disaster takes away almost everything, the most important thing in life is still family.

Wednesday marks two months since Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines, causing immense devastation and loss of life. World Vision quickly mobilized more than 200 local staff members to help reach almost 400,000 survivors with relief operations.

Today, Florence, one of our team members on the ground, reflects on the past two months and the amazing love and hope she has felt from around the world as we all became each other’s miracle.

A few months ago, World Vision communicator Jeremie Olivier traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and met children benefiting from World Vision’s Rebound project, which helps rehabilitate former child soldiers and prostitutes. Read about his encounter with Zawadi and how this teenager is finding her wings through mechanics.

A girl in Sri Lanka at a World Vision program's closing ceremony, featured in our photoblog "A beginning and an end" in May. (Photo: Matthew Paul Turner)

2013 was a very busy year! The social media team ran and supported a wide variety of programs and work, sharing joy, answering the question Why World Vision?, promoting books and films, and responding to disasters. Out of the hundreds of blog posts published this year, here’s a list of my – and your! – favorites.

Vote for your favorite! Whichever post gets the most comments below, I’ll look into doing a follow-up post later in 2014!

A dead tree adorned with food colors sealed in plastic becomes a symbol of the holiday season in the Philippines. (Photo: 2013 World Vision)

Within these last few days of the year, many people take this opportunity to squeeze in one more charitable donation as an extra write-off for their taxes. Your tax forms don’t care where that money goes, as long as it’s a charity, but you probably do. You’ll want to make sure that your money is going to a good organization.

2013 has been an amazing year (but maybe I’m biased; it was my first year with World Vision!) From responding to natural disasters and refugee crises to bringing clean water to a new person every 30 seconds, we’ve been doing great work around the world this year, and we look forward to continuing this work in 2014.

You can help! Are you considering making one more tax-deductible donation before 2013 is over? Here are five categories that have been important in 2013 — to us, to our donors, and to the children we’re serving. Make your choice today!

You are our blessing! Thanks to all of our supporters who make our work possible. We’ve encouraged you this month to Share #Joy … here’s a compilation of how our friends have shared and received joy this season.

World Vision donor Rachel Britz has established a family tradition of giving with her children, each choosing a Gift Catalog item to give every year. “This is going to be our family’s legacy,” she says.

In Peru, the gift of dairy animals from World Vision’s Gift Catalog is making a world of difference to Cupertino and his three children. Now that they drink milk every day, the children no longer get sick and have turned around the effects of malnourishment.

Today, rejoice with us about the work God is doing through a small church in Wyoming. Read about their “Coins for the Kingdom” ministry that has already raised money for a wide variety of Gift Catalog items!

World Vision is sharing joy across the United States by providing Family Food Kits to people who are going hungry because of natural disasters, homelessness, or job loss. Learn more with today’s video.

Last holiday season, American Idol winner Kris Allen visited Zakale Creations in Kenya — a small business that hand-crafts new items out of old ones and brings them back to life. Today, we challenge you to do the same!

Would rabbits make a good Christmas gift? In today’s video, three kids from the United States consider what it might be like to give someone rabbits for Christmas. They would certainly be a memorable gift!

A year ago, we received this amazing letter from one of our donors. Check out what Amy’s three girls did to be able to follow God’s lead to give, and how “the faith of a child is more powerful than the ‘logic’ of a parent.”